PAISLEY METHODIST CHURCH

Heritage

Paisley Methodist Church has a rich heritage.
The Edwardian church building is a fine example of an Free Renaissance style designed by architects
Watson and Salmond and constructed in 1908.

It is the last Central Hall in Scotland used as a place of worship.
As was common for Central Halls, in appearance it does not look like a church from the outside.
Also in common with other Methodist Halls, the building incorporates shops to generate rental income and
has a number of small rooms to host community activities and support groups.

The existence of the building owes a lot to the notorious gambler and heavy drinker, John Slack. Slack had converted
to Christianity after meeting “The Racehorse Preacher”, Josiah Nix in the Good Templar Halls in 1904.
He signed the pledge and worked unceasingly for the cause of Methodism until
his death in 1909. He was instrumental in raising funds to build the church on a site where a tenement
he had once owned used to stand.

One of the purposes of Central Halls was to provide a place where wholesome entertainment could be offered
as an alternative to gambling and drinking.

The large auditorium seats over 700 people on the first and second floors and is where worship takes place.
During renovation work in the 1980s the wooden seats in the auditorium were upholstered and in 2014
the original seats in the central area on the first floor were removed and replaced with
modern, comfortable seating.

Windows and roof lights are decorated with stained-glass depictions of the heads of winged angels in the Art Nouveau style.

The pipe organ dates from 1885. It was purchased from Queen’s Park High Church in Glasgow and was installed in 1925.
No longer playable, it has been superseded for purposes of musical accompaniment by a digital organ purchased in 1984.

The Pulpit Fall has a theme of eternal life. Butterflies symbolise resurrection and circles symbolise the idea of eternity.
There are three circles on either side to represent the three persons of trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The lectern fall has a theme of the Tree of Life. It is surrounded by butterflies, again representing eternal life.

The Pulpit Fall was given to the Church by the Storrie Family in memory of Janette Storrie.
The Lectern Fall has been given to the Church by Mr. & Mrs. Dempster in memory of their two sons, Ian and Robert and
of Mrs. Dempster's parents Mr. & Mrs. McKinnon.

The Falls were designed and made by Mrs. Marilyn McGregor of Brookfield. They were dedicated on 23 June 1985.